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EXPEDITION HISTORY
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This is just a short list of some great happenings
in Antarctica. There are many more.
1821: John Davis or John McFarlane, both sealing skippers,
claim to be the first person to actually set foot upon the Antarctic
Continent. There is more data on Mr. Davis and claim to have landed at
Hughes Bay on the Antarctic Peninsula, 7th of February.
1898: Carsten Borchgrevink & his small party became the
first men to winter over on the Antarctic Continent. They built a
small hut at Cape Adare for their base, and made the first sledge
journey on the Ross Ice Shelf.
1901: Robert Falcon Scott, an officer in the Royal Navy, led
the Discovery expedition to Victoria Land. With companions, Edward
Wilson and Ernest Shackleton, he made a trek towards the South Pole,
reaching 82ºS before having to turn back.
1907: Ernest Shackleton returned to Antarctica in quest of
reaching the Geographic South Pole & Magnetic South Pole but
failed in his attempt, but get the furthest south record. 180 km / 97
Nm from the pole.
1911: 14th of December, Roald Amundsen, Helmer Hansen, Oscar
Wisting, Olav Bjaaland and Sverre Hassel reached the Geographical
South Pole as the first humans. They started from Hvalbukta 20th of
October with 52 dogs and four sledges. Total time used 99 days on the
journey.
1912: Robert Falcon Scott, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Evans, Mr Oates and
Mr Bowers reached the South Pole 33 days after Amundsen expedition.
Their return journey became a disaster, and by 29 March 1912, all five
men were dead.
1914: Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 set sail for the
last unclaimed prize in the history of exploration: the first crossing
on foot of the Antarctic continent. Weddel Sea – South Pole –
McMurdo. But, Endurance was crushed in the pack ice, and has become
one of the most famous Antarctica expedition ever, by their
miraculously “escape / rescue” operation.
1929: Richard E. Byrd became the first person to fly over the
South Pole in November. It is said that no other person in Antarctic
history has contributed more to the geographic discovery of the
continent than Admiral Byrd.
1935: The first flight across the Antarctic continent. Made by,
Lincoln Ellsworth (US).
1946: Operation High jump, the US Navy Antarctic Developments
Project, was launched and it was the biggest single event that the
continent had ever seen. 4700 men, 33 aircraft, 13 ships and 10
caterpillar tractors were deployed, and helicopters and icebreakers
were used for the first time in Antarctica.
1958: The first overland trans-continental expedition, by The
Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, led by Vivian Fuchs and Sir
Edmund Hillary.
1990: The International Trans Antarctic Expedition; Will
Steger, Geoff Sumers, Jean-Louis Etienne, Victor Boyarsky, Qin Dahe,
Keizo Funatsu and their dog - team, completed the longest possible
route across the Antarctica, west – east, with a total distance of
5,980 km / 3,741 miles, in 221 days.
1997: Børge Ousland did the first unsupported crossing of
Antarctica in 64 days. From Berkner Island – South Pole – McMurdo,
2,800 km – alone.
2001: Eirik Sønneland and Rolf Bae, did the longest
unsupported ski expedition ever, 3,800 km, from Troll Station in
Dronning Maud’s Land – South Pole – McMurdo in 105 days.
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